Closet accessory construction

ABSTRACT

A closet accessory in the form of a hat, coat and shoe rack of the type transportable in a disassembled condition, including a number of hollow tubing structural members and with T-joints, between base members and upright members for example, of particularly simple and rugged construction formed by flattening an end portion of a hollow tube, curving it to conform to the curve of a tube to which it is to be joined, bending off the partially flattened and unflattened portions of the first tube at approximately right-angles to the round flat portion, and providing in the bend ridges with a curvature opposite to the bend. The flattened and formed tubing section described above is fastened, by spot welding for example, to the second piece of tubing which it is shaped to conform with to form a strong Tshaped tubing structure.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Gilbert ,1. Bolt:

182 Tibbets Road, Yonkers, N.Y. 10705 [211 App]. No. 857,505 [22] FiledSept. 12, 1969 [45] Patented Nov. 16, 1971 [54] CLOSET ACCESSORYCONSTRUCTION 2 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S. Cl 211/177, 211/182 511 int. Cl A47f 5/00 [50] Field of Search211/177, 182,148;287/54 C [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS3,187,693 6/1965 Hamilton et al. 211/148 X 850,658 4/1907 Koonce 211/182X 1,645,980 10/1927 Bearly 287/54 C X Primary ExaminerRamon S. BrittsAttorney-Darby & Darby ABSTRACT: A closet accessory in the form of ahat, coat and shoe rack of the type transportable in a disassembledcondition, including a number of hollow tubing structural members andwith T-joints, between base members and upright members for example, ofparticularly simple and rugged construction formed by flattening an endportion of a hollow tube, curving it to conform to the curve of a tubeto which it is to be joined, bending off the partially flattened andunflattened portions of the first tube at approximately right-angles tothe round flat portion, and providing in the bend ridges with acurvature opposite to the bend. The flattened and formed tubing sectiondescribed above is fastened, by spot welding for example, to the secondpiece of tubing which it is shaped to conform with to form a strongT-shaped tubing structure.

PATENTEDNUV 1 6 l97l FIG.

FIG. 2

Z U m R mJ m E W8 H G AT TORNE YS CLOSET ACCESSORY CONSTRUCTION Thestorage of clothing items in a closet or other storage area isfacilitated by various known fonns of closet accessories such ashatracks, shoe racks, etc. which are conveniently formed of strong butlight tubing elements which may be chrome plated or otherwisedeeoratively finished.

Particularly in the case of larger accessories such as coat racks it isdesirable to design the coatrack of a number of tubing elements whichcan be transported in a disassembled condition and which by virtue ofenlarged and/or diminished end portions are assembled together readilyto form a relatively large structure approximately feet tall by severalfeet in length without the use of special tools or similar hardware suchas nuts and bolts.

The tubing elements of which such a structure is to be formed can bereadily bent to L-shapes, U-shapes or the like while preserving rigidityand strength of the element to the necessary degree. In forming T-shapedelements as is required in such structures (for example to join anupright portion to a horizontal base portion) it becomes necessary tosecure one piece of tubing to another piece of tubing at substantially aright-angle with strength and rigidity yet without an unacceptableincrease in the fabrication cost of the otherwise simple structure.

Previous closet accessory structures of the type here involved haveincluded T-shaped junctions between hollow tubing formed simply by spotwelding the sidewall of one section of tubing to the sidewall of anothersection of tubing, with the tubing sections arranged at right-angles.While quite simple, this construction does not provide adequate strengthor rigidity, particularly in view of the fact that the T-junction ofsuch structures is frequently a location subjected to relatively largeforces and stresses developed in normal handling of the assembledconstruction.

The present invention provides a closet accessory structure including aT-junction for pieces of tubing which is simple and inexpensive butnonetheless rigid and rugged to a sufficient degree to withstand theforces and stresses encountered by the structure in normal use withvirtually no incidence of failure.

The T-shaped tubing junction includes a flattened tubing portion bent tothe curvature of the joining section of tubing, a substantiallyright-angle bend between the curved flattened portion and the partiallyflattened and unflattened portion of the bent-tubing section, and a pairof ridges spaced along the substantially right-angle bend having acurvature opposite to that of the bend providing rigidity at the area ofthe bend. A pair of spot welds is also preferably utilized to secure thetwotubing sections together forming the T-junction.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a closet accessorystructure including a particularly simple, inexpensive, yet ruggedT-joint between tubing sections of which the structure is to beassembled.

It is another object of the present invention to provide tubing elementsincluding a portion formed of a T wherein by partially flattening andforming bends of reverse curvature in portions of the tubing structure aparticularly strong and rugged joint is achieved in a relativelyinexpensively fabricated structure.

Other objects and advantages in addition to those described andsuggested above will be apparent from a consideration of the followingdescription in conjunction with the appended drawings in which:

F IG. 1 is a perspective view of a representative closet accessory inthe form of a combined hat, coat, and shoe rack incorporating thepresent invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary elevational view of a tubing element T-junctionstructure representing an important feature of the present invention;and

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 3-3 in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 1, a closet accessory 11 is shown in the form of acombined hat, coat, and shoe rack.

The accessory 11 is formed of a number of structural elements most ofwhich are in the form of tubing sections appropriately shaped anddimensioned to be completed structure.

It is highly advantageous for articles such as the illustrated closetaccessory to be transported to the location where it is to be used in adisassembled condition thereby permitting a rather large structure to betransported in a container of a volume of about 1 cubic foot or less.Shipping in disassembled form carries with it the disadvantage ofrequiring the user or purchaser to assemble the structure and it istherefore highly desirable that the assembly be simplified the maximumextent possible as by eliminating all small hardware such as nuts orbolts, which tend to become lost, require special tools or lead toimproper assembly. The closet accessory 11 has both the advantage ofbeing capable of being transported in disassembled condition and ofrequiring no hardware or special tools in assembly.

The closest accessory 11 includes a pair of U-shaped base elements 13formed of steel tubing. Elements 13 support, and are constrained by, awire grid shoe rack 15.

Shoe rack 15 may be secured relative to U-shaped elements 13 by thesimple expedient of having bent ends of the wire grid arranged to slideinto vertical holes in the top of U-shaped elements 13 as shown in FIG.1.

Closet accessory 11 is preferably provided with conventional casters 17press-fit into the ends of the arms of U- shaped members 13. Closetaccessory 11 accordingly can be rolled from place to place if desired.Alternatively, casters 17 could be omitted or replaced by plasticglides.

The upright portions of closet accessory 11 are formed of straighttubular elements 19 and 21. The lower ends of tubular elements 19 arereduced in diameter to fit into the open end of the upwardly extendingsections of U-shaped base elements 13. The upper ends of tubing elements19 are enlarged to accept in a similar fashion the reduced end of tubingelements 21. It is convenient for each tubing element 21 to be reducedin diameter at both ends and for a top tubing element 22 to haveenlarged downward opening ends engaging the tops of tubing elements 21.

A hatrack 23 formed of a wire grid is provided and may be convenientlylocated on top of top element 22 by providing top element 22 withvertical holes to accept downwardly bent wire portions of hat rack 23.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, hangers 27 together with garments 25 areconveniently stored on the closet accessory I 1.

The upwardly extending portion 31 of U-shaped base members 13 should besecured in position relative to U-shaped base members 13 ruggedly andrigidly since this junction of the structure encounters much of theforce and stress in normal use of the structure.

It is an important feature of the present invention to provide aT-shaped junction between upright portion 31 and the center of U-shapedbase element 13 which is simple and inexpensive to fabricate and yetprovides a high degree of rigidity and ruggedness. The construction ofthe T-shaped junction between the upright portion 31 and the horizontalportion 33 of the U-shaped elements 13 is shown in greater detail inFIGS. 2 and 3. It will be noted that a forming operation is carried outon tubing element 31 while (except for fonning into U-shape) tubingelement 33 is not deformed to provide the desired junction.

The forming operation on tubing element 31 is preferably carried out ina conventional manner in a single stroke in a power press with diessuitably formed in accordance with known die-making techniques. Forconvenience, however, the various portions of the deformed tubingelement 31 will be described separately.

The end of tubing element 31 is substantially completely flattened andbent in the form of a portion of a cylinder conforming to the outsidediameter of tubing element 33.

The partially flattened and the unflattened portion of tubing element 31is bent relative to the flattened and cylindrically curved portion atapproximately a angle. The flattened and cylindrically bent portionpreferably forms approximately a half cylinder.

assembled into the It is important that the T-junction not be weak withrespect to bending along the bend line 39, and accordingly ridges 41 areformed near the ends of bend line 39 with a curvature which is oppositeto that of the bend at bend line 39. In other words, in FIG. 2 the bendat bend line 39 is concave whereas the bend-forming ridges 41 is convex.

Tubing section 31 may be secured to the horizontal tubing portion 33 byspot welding as indicated at 43. improved rigidity is provided by spotwelding and two-spaced locations but this is not in all cases essential.It will be noted that the conformity between the shape of the flattenedcylindrically bent portion of tubing elements 31 and the outsidediameter of tubing portion 33 lends considerable rigidity to theT-junction and it is primarily the function of the spaced welds 43 tohold the walls of the respective tubing sections together rather than toresist any twisting or sheer stress at the point of the spot welds.Obviously, the spot weld connections 43 could be replaced by otherconventional means such as rivets or the like, but spot welding is thepreferred construction.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that a closet accessoryis provided having a construction including a T- shaped junction whichis located at a point of substantial force and stress in normal use ofthe closet accessory and is particularly rigid and rugged while at thesame time simple and easy to fabricate.

It will be apparent that modifications and variations to the forms ofthe invention described or suggested may be devised by those skilled inthe art and it is accordingly desired that the scope of the inventionnot be considered to be limited to the particular structure shown orsuggested.

What is claimed is:

l. A closet accessory comprising, a pair of inverted U- shaped metaltubular elements of circular cross section, said U-shaped tubularelements each having joined thereto an upwardly extending tubularsection, a pair of upright tubular elements engaging respectively saidupright tubular sections, a top tubular crosspiece joining said uprighttubular sections and a bottom crosspiece joining said inverted U-shapedtubular elements, the joinder of each said U-shaped tubular element andthe corresponding upwardly extending tubular section consisting of aT-shaped junction constructed at the center of said U-shaped metaltubular elements between a first and a second of such tubular elements,the first of said tubular elements being substantially undeformed in thearea of the junction and the second of such tubular elements beingflattened at its end, the flattened portion thereof being bent in theshape of a sector of a cylinder subtending at least 50 and not more thanabout 200 to conform to the cross-sectional shape of said first tubularelement, there being a partially flattened portion of said secondtubular element adjacent said flattened portion and a bend ofapproximately between said flattened portion and said partiallyflattened portion portion, the bend line of said bend being along a lineapproximately parallel to the axis of said cylinder, there further beingat least one ridge bent in said second tubular element across said bendline, said ridge having a curvature opposite to that of the bend at saidbend line, and a total length substantially less than the length of saidflattened portion, the flattened portion of said upwardly extendingtubular section being secured to the wall of said U-shaped tubularelement near the center thereof and said T-shaped junction substantiallysupporting said closet accessory structure.

2. A closet accessory comprising a pair of inverted U- shaped metaltubular elements of circular cross section, said U-shaped elements eachhaving joined thereto an upwardly extending tubular section, a pair ofupright tubular elements engaging respectively said upright tubularsections, a top tubular crosspiece joining said upright tubular sectionsand a bottom crosspiece joining said inverted U-shaped tubular elements,the joinder of each of said U-shaped tubular elements and thecorresponding upwardly extending tubular section consisting of aT-shaped junction constructed at the center of said U-shaped metaltubular elements between a first and second of such tubular elements,the first of said tubular elements .being substantially undeformed inthe area of the junction and the second of such tubular elements beingflattened at its end, the flattened portion thereof being bent in theshape of a sector of a cylinder subtending at least 50 and not more thanabout 200 to conform to the cross-sectional shape of said first tubularelement, there being a partially flattened portion of said secondtubular element adjacent said flattened portion, and a bend ofapproximately 90between said flattened portion and said partiallyflattened portion, the bend line of said bend being along the lineapproximately parallel to the axis of said cylinder, said second tubularelement further having a portion opposite said flattened end of circularcross section less than half its total length but more than 1 inch inlength, there further being at least one ridge bent in said secondtubular element across said bend line, said ridge having a curvatureopposite to that of the bend at said bend line and a total lengthsubstantially less than the length of said flattened portion, theflattened portion of said upwardly extending tubular section beingsecured to the wall of said U-shaped tubular element near the centerthereof and said T-shaped junction substantially supporting said closetaccessory structure.

* k II

1. A closet accessory comprising, a pair of inverted U-shaped metaltubular elements of circular cross section, said U-shaped tubularelements each having joined thereto an upwardly extending tubularsection, a pair of upright tubular elements engaging respectively saidupright tubular sections, a top tubular crosspiece joining said uprighttubular sections and a bottom crosspiece joining said inverted U-shapedtubular elements, the joinder of each said U-shaped tubular element andthe corresponding upwardly extending tubular section Consisting of aT-shaped junction constructed at the center of said U-shaped metaltubular elements between a first and a second of such tubular elements,the first of said tubular elements being substantially undeformed in thearea of the junction and the second of such tubular elements beingflattened at its end, the flattened portion thereof being bent in theshape of a sector of a cylinder subtending at least 50* and not morethan about 200* to conform to the cross-sectional shape of said firsttubular element, there being a partially flattened portion of saidsecond tubular element adjacent said flattened portion and a bend ofapproximately 90* between said flattened portion and said partiallyflattened portion portion, the bend line of said bend being along a lineapproximately parallel to the axis of said cylinder, there further beingat least one ridge bent in said second tubular element across said bendline, said ridge having a curvature opposite to that of the bend at saidbend line, and a total length substantially less than the length of saidflattened portion, the flattened portion of said upwardly extendingtubular section being secured to the wall of said U-shaped tubularelement near the center thereof and said T-shaped junction substantiallysupporting said closet accessory structure.
 2. A closet accessorycomprising a pair of inverted U-shaped metal tubular elements ofcircular cross section, said U-shaped elements each having joinedthereto an upwardly extending tubular section, a pair of upright tubularelements engaging respectively said upright tubular sections, a toptubular crosspiece joining said upright tubular sections and a bottomcrosspiece joining said inverted U-shaped tubular elements, the joinderof each of said U-shaped tubular elements and the corresponding upwardlyextending tubular section consisting of a T-shaped junction constructedat the center of said U-shaped metal tubular elements between a firstand second of such tubular elements, the first of said tubular elementsbeing substantially undeformed in the area of the junction and thesecond of such tubular elements being flattened at its end, theflattened portion thereof being bent in the shape of a sector of acylinder subtending at least 50* and not more than about 200* to conformto the cross-sectional shape of said first tubular element, there beinga partially flattened portion of said second tubular element adjacentsaid flattened portion, and a bend of approximately 90* between saidflattened portion and said partially flattened portion, the bend line ofsaid bend being along the line approximately parallel to the axis ofsaid cylinder, said second tubular element further having a portionopposite said flattened end of circular cross section less than half itstotal length but more than 1 inch in length, there further being atleast one ridge bent in said second tubular element across said bendline, said ridge having a curvature opposite to that of the bend at saidbend line and a total length substantially less than the length of saidflattened portion, the flattened portion of said upwardly extendingtubular section being secured to the wall of said U-shaped tubularelement near the center thereof and said T-shaped junction substantiallysupporting said closet accessory structure.